Valerie Harper rushed to hospital after falling unconscious backstage at her musical show as she continues cancer fight

Valerie Harper was rushed to hospital on Wednesday after falling unconscious backstage at her musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It.

The 75-year-old actress, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2013, was due to take to the stage in Maine on Wednesday night at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

Emergency services were alerted at 8.56pm and the fire department attended the scene. Harper was then taken to York Hospital, Entertainment Tonight reports.

On Thursday morning, the hospital confirmed in a statement that Harper had been discharged, but gave no other information, according to Deadline.

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Medical emergency: Valerie Harper was taken to hospital in Maine on Wednesday night after falling unconscious backstage at her musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, seen here in a publicity photograph

Earlier,the Ogunquit Playhouse released an official statement which said Harper was in a comfortable condition in hospital.

Bradford T. Kenney, Executive Artistic Director, said: 'Valerie Harper was taken to a local hospital as a precaution before her July 29 evening performance of Nice Work If You Can Get It, at the Ogunquit Playhouse, after reporting that she was not feeling well.

'She is resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital for observation for the time being. .... The audiences and all of us here at the Playhouse are greatly enjoying our time with Valerie here in Ogunquit, and we are encouraged that she is feeling better.'

On Wednesday night the show's director made an announcement to the audience at around 9.40pm and explained Harper had fallen ill and would not be performing, according to Ron Corning (anchor and correspondent at ET's affiliate in Dallas WFAA).

ET quotes the show's director as telling the audience: 'She wants all of you to know after some fluids and rest she hopes to be right back here on stage later this week.'

At peace: The actress said in a recent interview that she had come to terms with her terminal cancer diagnosis, pictured here at a Lung Force event in New York; Harper previously beat lung cancer before being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013

Harper plays the role of wealthy and stylish Millicent Winter in the show, and was due to continue her three-week run until August 15.

ET had previously claimed sources revealed that the situation is 'very bad' and that Harper has been feeling unwell all week.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show star revealed earlier this year that she had made peace with her cancer diagnosis.

She was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2013, after beating lung cancer in 2009.

'I'm ready. I'm ready to go,' Harper told People.com in a May interview.

Star turn: The actress is famous for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern, as portrayed on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, spin-off Rhoda (as pictured here with co-star Moore) and 2000 TV movie Mary and Rhoda

Also that month the actress - who is married to actor/ producer Tony Cacciotti - opened up about her diagnosis as she spoke in New York City on behalf of Lung Force, an organisation that unites women to stand against lung cancer and promote lung health.

'Sometimes I feel icky, but I'm feeling very good in New York,' the actress said, adding: 'Maybe because I'm working or I'm talking about cancer in a positive way - I think that might have something to do with it.'

In April the Rhoda star explained that her rare form of cancer - called eptomeningeal carcinomatosis - hadn't yet spread to other parts of her body, but clarified that she had not been 'cured', contrary to reports.

The show goes on: Harper fell ill backstage at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine where she has just started a three-week run in the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It